The humpback whale was found at the Currarong end of Warrain Beach early Saturday morning.

It was about 10 metres long with a weight estimated to be 15 tonnes.

During the morning ORRCA volunteers, National Parks and Wildlife staff, Marine Parks Authority, Navy personnel and local residents all played a role in attempting to rescue the mammal.

ORRCA volunteer of 23 years Wendy McFarlane said the group’s best efforts to refloat it at high tide were unsuccessful.

“We had machinery come in and dig a huge channel around it,” she said.

“We hoped with high tide it would have been able to get off the beach.

“Old Mother Nature was really against us. The tide just didn’t come in far enough,” she said.

The group was planning another attempt to re-float the whale by digging a larger channel in time for Sunday’s high tide.

Nowra vet Justin Clarke monitored the whale and said it was not stressed and was breathing well.

Ms McFarlane said there was no obvious reason as to why the whale became beached.

She said it could have had an internal injury.

“The whale died at 8pm Saturday which was sudden and unexpected.

“It was a young, fit looking animal and it was very lively, trying hard to swim away at first.

“It had good care up to the end and died as peacefully as it could have.

“As usual most people there were interested in offering food and accommodation to the helpers.

“They’re a nice mob at Currarong,” she said.

The carcass is being buried on the beach today.